Prolonged isoflurane anesthesia in a case of catastrophic asthma.

A 13-year-old female patient with life-threatening asthma was treated with the inhalational anesthetic agent, 1% isoflurane, for 202 h (140 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) hours). The patient survived and exhibited no significant side effects attributable to the medication. The present patient report provides additional clinical information supporting the utilization of long-term isoflurane general anesthesia in the management of refractory status asthmaticus that have not responded to aggressive medical management.